Many items come to mind when imagining the tools of oral health: toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash…the list goes on. But seldom would a person consider their diet, the eating of an orange or wasabi as part of their dental routines, as part of an effort to defend against tooth decay. However, there are myriad and plentiful natural solutions to the issue... read more »

Generally, humanity’s oral health has solely improved. With increased access to their hygiene tools and doctors who specialize in their health and beauty, our teeth have altogether never looked better. We imagine the crooked or wooden teeth of the past, and tut, enjoying how far technology and science have come. But there are even more differences between ancient and modern... read more »

Hormones are famous for causing many bodily changes: acne, hair growth and voice cracks. But it also has subtler and more holistic bodily effects beyond the pubescent embarrassments. Oral health is an unexamined and unspoken health aspect that the human phases of hormonal change have significant effects on. The most obvious and universal human hormonal change is puberty. However, a... read more »

In the last blog post, we discussed the causes and prevalence of secondary tooth decay. This blog focuses on preventing secondary tooth decay and the budding technologies seeking to combat this persistent dental issue. The number one, and perhaps the most obvious, prevention for secondary tooth decay is no past tooth decay, aka no cavities at all. This is achieved... read more »

I recently had the frustration of being told I have a new cavity, formed where an old filling had worn down. My instinct was frustration: a moment of, “I thought I fixed that already!” A patient understandably assumes, having left that cavity in the past, it was a blip that was remedied and eventually forgotten. Unfortunately, secondary tooth decay (also... read more »

The last post covered the potentially harmful effects dental amalgam has on the human body, despite its prevalent use in filling cavities. In light of growing concerns over dental amalgam-caused mercury exposure, alternative fillings are being developed, tested and put into practice. The reason dental amalgam has maintained its commonality despite health worries is its cheapness and its durability. Very... read more »

Cavities are exceedingly common, with 90% of the U.S. population having one over the course of their life. When treating cavities, the affected area is drilled out to prevent the decay from spreading. But that hole, if unfilled, leaves the patient more susceptible to future decay, as the hole is thoroughly uncleanable through conventional means. That is why dentists fill... read more »

Is your family home filled with fading photos of you, snuggled in some onesie, with a pacifier in your mouth? Are you a parent who had 12 identical copies of your baby’s binkie, which you can go nowhere without in fear of a meltdown? Do you work at a restaurant, and often find abandoned pacifiers lying under tables, with frantic... read more »

Though the field of orthodontics has made incredible strides in recent history, with the process shifting from wildly conspicuous to almost unnoticeable, it still harbors some of its oldest "cons” -- pain. The unavoidable fact is editing one’s dentition is an uncomfortable task. Be it through the tightening of wires or the swapping of aligners, exerting the proper pressure on... read more »

Last week’s post focused on the body’s interconnectedness, and how unhealthy gums can lead to hosts of health problems in seemingly separate areas of the body, like the heart or lungs. This week, we’ll be focusing on the stages of gum disease, and the importance and efficacy of seeing a professional and treating gum conditions early. The first and least... read more »